wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 13 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has also been viewed 64,630 times.
Learn more...

E-cigarettes are a non-carcinogenic alternative to the real-thing and are theoretically cheaper. If you only had to worry about replacing/ refilling the eCig cartridges, then you would indeed spend less money than if you purchased their equivalent in smoke-able tobacco. However the complicated batteries e-cigs use and their associated USB chargers are expensive and malfunction easily. This article shows you how to improvise a rudimentary e-cig using normal batteries (either Ds,Cs, or AAs) and a fresh cartridge.

Steps

1

Collect 3 "D" (or 4 "C") batteries (laid end to end in a line) and a length of electrical wire which exceeds the total length of the batteries by a few inches.

2

Strip the insulation from the wire's ends. For stranded wiring you'll want to twist the exposed strands back into a single cord. Remove 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) from one end and an inch or so of insulation from the other end.

3

Form a flat spiral disc with the 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of exposed wire (see picture). Attach an alligator clip to other end of the wire. Secure the connection by crimping it w/ pliers.

4

Fasten the spiral end of the wire to the (-) terminal of one of the batteries. Secure it in place with some electrical tape.

5

Cut the cardboard tube lengthwise. Tighten the tube's diameter to a width that can accommodate the batteries with a snug fit. Secure the tube's width by folding up the bottom end and stapling it shut at the crease. Put a rubber band around the top of the tube.

6

Put the battery (the one with the wire already attached) into the tube with the negative terminal facing down towards the folded end. Position the wire so that the alligator clip sticks out the top of the cardboard tube - you can use the rubber band to hold the clip in place. Insert the remaining batteries into the tube in the same order (-+;-+;-+;-+) as the first one.

7

Make a male electrical connector for the ecig cartridge (you may be able to skip this step if your cartridge already has a male connector). The V2 cartridge's shown in the pictures have female connectors. You can improvise a male connector by wrapping a screw (which will be the center terminal) with insulating tape and then cutting a "T" shaped piece of sheet metal and bending it to fit between the cartridge's outer terminal and around the taped core of the center terminal. So long as the center terminal (in this case the screw or nail) is electrically insulated from the outer ring it'll work fine. Also shown is the male connector from an NJOY cartridge being used as a female to male adaptor for the V2 cartridge.

8

Connect the alligator clip to the outer ring terminal of the cartridge. To use the ecig, just touch the cartridge's center lead (the screw) to the positive terminal of the battery at the top of the cardboard tube when you draw on the cartridge mouthpiece. It makes a distinct sizzling noise. But don't allow it to contact the battery terminal when not in use - the filament inside the cartridge will overheat. Nor should you allow the alligator clip itself to contact the top battery since that will short the circuit. Make adjustments such as strategically tearing the cardboard, bending the wire, and moving the rubber band such that the cartridge's central shaft does not normally touch the battery at the top of the tube.

Community Q&A

Tips

This thing is cheap and performs better than the commercial ecig kits.

This thing is an eyesore - with a little artistic effort you can construct a far more elegant and easy-to-use ecig if you're so inclined. But this is a good place to start and once you see how it's basically just a battery holder used to briefly energize a short piece of nichrome wire you'll conceive of all sorts of clever innovations.

It's certainly possible to make your own cartridges, etc. but that's outside the scope of this article.

It takes at least one hand to to use this thing.

Warnings

Though this article assumes you have a filled ecig cartridge (the brand doesn't matter) - if you are filling your own cartridges or dripping fluid onto an atomizer - always be careful with nicotine containing ecig liquids. It absorbs through the skin and nicotine overdoses are unpleasant at best and lethal at worst.

Article Info

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 13 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has also been viewed 64,630 times.